I wonder what's changed with regards to the first edition but there's probably a thread about this around here.

The one reason why this gem didn't hit our table enough is because it's quite a complicated game so the co-oppers have to be at the same level more or less or this quickly becomes a one-man-show.

But it's a very nice game.

I've actually had the opposite experience - there's something about the ingenuity of the visual phase flow of the board design, the limited number of actions, the relative simplicity of goals ("gather X wood, build y") and the fact that the game tells such a strong narrative. It often seems to suck people in that aren't ordinarily complex gamers. I often remind players the first round or two what our ultimate goal is and then encourage a brainstorming session at the start of the action phase to talk about the possible actions we can take... Subject to personality quirks, I find most people get into this very quickly.

For those just discovering this game, extremely recommended, pre-order now. There is luck, you will lose, but wow, does this game tell an engaging story if you let it.

This might be the first game where if a pdf file of the changes to the cards were available I may take an extra fine tip sharpie and make the corrections on the card itself. I honestly spent way too much on this game to purchase it again. I love the game, but I am not spending $80 on it again...

Yes, 400 edits sounds like a lot, but if we're honest, it's perfectly reasonable to assume that many of them were clarifications Let's see when the game comes out. I'm sure somebody will make a thorough comparison

By the time this game hit my radar and I was considering purchasing, I heard about the return to Portal and decided to pass up the Z-Man edition and hold out for the updated version. I've been waiting patiently, and it's my #1 most-anticipated game right now (or #2, between this and Nautilion, I can't decide). I got a response on Twitter saying it won't show up in Canadian retail until possibly early December. Broke my heart, that did. Last I checked it was coming this month.